Marty
10-24-2005, 05:46 AM
When pups are born they rely on their mother for feeding or, if she isn’t available, on their breeder to tube-feed them with a replacement formula. Puppies grow at a rapid rate and will double their birth weight in a matter of days. Therefore they require large quantities of their mother’s milk or a replacement formula to provide them with the nutrients they need to thrive.
When to wean: In approximately their third or fourth week of life the pups will be more aware and curious about the world around them, and about the food that their mother is eating. It is important at this time for the breeder to gently handle the pups regularly, as part of the socialization process, so that they become more comfortable around people. At this time the mother dog usually starts to discourage nursing and the breeder should start offering food to the puppies to sample. This period in the pups’ life is very important to their emotional and social development.
The pups’ diet: The pups will continue to suckle from their mother at this time, but less and less as they are weaned. The first supplementary food they should be given should be a soft puppy food (canned or dry food that's been soaked in water) (LINK TO PRODUCTS PAGE/PUPPIES). Puppies have smaller stomachs than adult dogs so they need food that is formulated just for them. This food will have concentrated nutrients so the pups can get the nutrition they need to be healthy, and to grow into healthy adult dogs. Lactating mother dogs also do quite well being fed puppy food.
Feeding times: Your veterinarian can advise you on how often the pups will need to be fed each day. It is usually several times a day for about 30 minutes each time, after which you remove the food, clean the pups up, and return them to their mother.
It is helpful to put the pups’ food in a shallow bowl while they are learning how to eat without suckling. Either way, feeding times for the pups may be quite messy while they are learning. They may walk or fall into their food - and generally end up with it all over them – but eventually they will learn how to eat normally from the bowl.
When to wean: In approximately their third or fourth week of life the pups will be more aware and curious about the world around them, and about the food that their mother is eating. It is important at this time for the breeder to gently handle the pups regularly, as part of the socialization process, so that they become more comfortable around people. At this time the mother dog usually starts to discourage nursing and the breeder should start offering food to the puppies to sample. This period in the pups’ life is very important to their emotional and social development.
The pups’ diet: The pups will continue to suckle from their mother at this time, but less and less as they are weaned. The first supplementary food they should be given should be a soft puppy food (canned or dry food that's been soaked in water) (LINK TO PRODUCTS PAGE/PUPPIES). Puppies have smaller stomachs than adult dogs so they need food that is formulated just for them. This food will have concentrated nutrients so the pups can get the nutrition they need to be healthy, and to grow into healthy adult dogs. Lactating mother dogs also do quite well being fed puppy food.
Feeding times: Your veterinarian can advise you on how often the pups will need to be fed each day. It is usually several times a day for about 30 minutes each time, after which you remove the food, clean the pups up, and return them to their mother.
It is helpful to put the pups’ food in a shallow bowl while they are learning how to eat without suckling. Either way, feeding times for the pups may be quite messy while they are learning. They may walk or fall into their food - and generally end up with it all over them – but eventually they will learn how to eat normally from the bowl.